Monsanto Fund Announces Launch of 2015 Canada's Farmers Grow Communities Program

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA--(Marketwired - Jan. 19, 2015) - Applications are now open for the Monsanto Fund's 2015 Canada's Farmers Grow Communities program.

Now in its fourth year, Canada's Farmers Grow Communities provides 66 $2,500 grants to charitable and non-profit organizations offering important services in rural communities across the country. To date, the Monsanto Company's philanthropic arm, the Monsanto Fund, has given farmer-nominated charities in BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes a total of $485,000 for much needed equipment, repairs and improvements.

"Our goal is to collaborate with farmers to help rural communities thrive," said Kelly Funke, public affairs manager for Monsanto Canada. "The great organizations that Canadian farmers so clearly believe in and support are truly the glue that binds these communities and allows them to flourish."

It is rewarding to see the impact the grants have on rural lives, whether they benefit the Edenwold Memorial Rink, in Edenwold, SK which is one of the only places in that community of 300 where folks can gather and be active, or one of the many 4-H clubs that offer development opportunities for young people, Funke added.

Farmers who are considering an application in 2015 can look at a range of organizations, from agricultural societies to playgrounds, daycares and school projects, sports clubs, service groups and 4-H clubs. A complete listing of last year's winners is posted online at the www.CanadasFarmers.ca

Once again in 2015, two $2,500 grants will be awarded in each of 33 different territories across the grain growing regions of northeastern BC (Peace River district), Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and the Maritime Provinces.

Applications will be accepted January 15, 2015 through September 30, 2015. And anyone can suggest a charity for a farmer to discover! All it takes is a visit to www.CanadasFarmers.ca where complete contest rules and an online application form are available. Winners will be selected by random draw on or about November 1, 2015 and notified by November 15, 2015.

About The Monsanto Fund

The Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the communities where farmers and Monsanto Company employees live and work. You can learn more at www.monsantofund.org.

About Monsanto Canada

Headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Monsanto Canada Inc. is part of the larger global Monsanto Company. Monsanto is an agricultural company committed to bringing a broad range of solutions to help nourish our growing world. We produce a variety of seeds ranging from fruits and vegetables to key crops - such as corn, soybeans, canola and cotton - that help farmers produce abundant and nutritious food. We work to find sustainable agriculture solutions that help farmers conserve natural resources, use data to improve farming practices, use water and other important resources more efficiently, and protect their crops from pests and disease. Through programs and partnerships, we collaborate with farmers, researchers, nonprofit organizations, universities and others to help tackle some of the world's biggest challenges.

To learn more about Monsanto, please visit: www.monsanto.ca or follow us on Twitter @MonsantoCda.